Governor announces change at Department of Commerce

Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Thursday that Paul Green, director of the Department of Commerce, stepped down from his role to spend more time with family.

“I am grateful to Paul for stepping up to lead the charge at the Montana Department of Commerce,” Gov. Gianforte said in a statement. “Working with Paul and his exceptional team, we made great progress recruiting more job creating businesses to Montana and making our state the best place to live, work, raise a family, and start a business.”

Green was appointed to the role in January 2024. He said he will return home to his wife and to Hardin to lead the Big Sky Economic Development Authority starting in April, although he loved the job at Commerce.

“I always like to say this job was like calving or harvest,” Green said. “We have a short amount of time to get a bunch of stuff done, and you got to make hay while the sun is shining.”

While Green talked about his departure in a hallway at the Capitol, legislators who walked by thanked him for his work. Green said his departure was effective Thursday, and he will return home for calving season.

Mandy Rambo, deputy director at the Montana Department of Commerce, will serve as the agency’s acting director effective immediately, said a news release from the Governor’s Office on Thursday.

Green, previously head of Two Rivers Economic Development Authority, said while leading the Department of Commerce, he made headway in ensuring all communities in the state had equitable access to economic development programs and in making it “the best place to work.”

Green is U.S. Navy veteran who previously served in the Montana House of Representatives and with the Montana Economic Developers Association.

In the news release, the governor said he wished Green well in the future.

“His leadership and commitment to the department’s mission will be missed,” Green said.